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Rare Venomous Primate Found After Decades!
3 Nov
Summary
- Over 90 Bangka slow lorises identified between 2015 and 2025.
- The species was critically endangered and possibly extinct.
- Habitat loss due to mining and plantations threatens survival.
For decades, one of Indonesia's rarest primates, the Bangka slow loris, remained largely unseen by scientists. However, a series of wildlife rescues on Bangka island has brought this elusive animal back into focus. Between 2015 and 2025, researchers identified over 90 individuals, suggesting the species has survived despite decades without reliable scientific records and ongoing habitat pressures.
The Bangka slow loris, known scientifically as Nycticebus bancanus, was last documented in historical records from the early 1930s. In 2020, it was classified as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct by the IUCN. Recent findings from the Alobi Wildlife Rescue Center have shifted this perspective, providing a crucial starting point for understanding the primate's survival.
Many of these slow lorises were found in unexpected places like houses and gardens, some with injuries. The rescue center provided care and gathered essential data, with 86 individuals released back into suitable habitats. This highlights the vital role of rescue organizations in documenting threatened wildlife outside protected areas.
These venomous primates face significant threats from habitat destruction caused by tin mining and the expansion of oil palm plantations on Bangka. Protecting remaining woodlands is paramount for the species' future, necessitating systematic surveys to ascertain population size and habitat conditions.
